George B. McClellan

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"George Brinton McClellan was born at Philadelphia, December 3, 1826. He was for two years a student in the University of Virginia, but in 1842 he became a cadet at West Point, where he was the youngest in his class. He made his mark, however, for, on graduating in 1846, he stood second in general rank, and first in engineering. He engaged in the Mexican War, and took part in the siege of Vera Cruz, along with Lee and Beauregard. He was brevetted captain, and after the war he was employed by the government in surveys beyond the Mississippi. When the Crimean War occurred, Captain McClellan was one of a commission sent by the United States government to examine the military systems of Europe, and to report on the better organization of the American army. He made an important report, on his return, and then retired from the service, and became president of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. He was living in Cincinnati when the war broke out, and the governor of Ohio at once commissioned him major general of the Ohio militia. He had most winning qualities and an unblemished character, so that he attached every one who came in contact with him. Near the close of the war, he became the Democratic candidate for the Presidency. He was elected governor of New Jersey in 1877, and died at Orange, in that State, October 29, 1885."—Scudder, 1897